Maintaining Oiled Wood Floor in Norwich, Norfolk
Hardwood floors have been around for hundreds of years, so when we say that this type of flooring has a timeless look, it's with good reason. Once the symbol of aristocracy, finished wooden floors are beautiful and add a touch of class and sophistication to any room.
Oiled wood floors are relatively easy to maintain and keep clean as long as a few basic procedures are observed.
A key step to protect the floor so it doesn’t get scratched, marked, or suffer unnecessary wear is to ensure a quality doormat is placed at points of entry. A lot of avoidable damage/wear on oiled wooden floors is caused by the transference of fine dust and grit from outside. Regular sweeping/vacuuming will remove these contaminants and reduce premature wear.
Ideally, outdoor footwear should be removed; however, this is often impractical. A good-quality doormat will ensure that dust/grit, and moisture on a wet day remain on the threshold rather than on the wood floor.
To avoid scratching, felt pads can be fitted to furniture legs, and care should be taken when moving heavy objects.
Simple light cleaning with a well-wrung damp mop or flat mop and a suitable cleaning solution will remove light soiling. Check the level of protection/oil on the surface and ensure it doesn’t erode completely, as the bare wood will be exposed. Soiling can then penetrate the timbre and become trapped in the grain.
There may be a point where regular cleaning is not enough to keep the floor clean and looking fresh. An additional application of oil can be applied; a deep clean is first recommended to avoid sealing the soiling into the surface. The process should be carried out by a wood floor oiling specialist who can also advise on other treatments for wooden floors, such as non-sanding, cleaning and sealing.
The process incorporates the following steps:
1- Deep cleaning the floor to remove surface soiling. This is achieved with a rotary machine using closely controlled volumes of water and cleaning solution.
2- Removing the slurry (waste) using a wet pick-up vacuum, followed by the neutralisation of the floor.
3- Drying the floor using a mechanical drier prior to the application of the oil. This step is vital. 4- The application and even distribution of the oil with the use of the oil with a special oil brush.
We recommend not undertaking the deep clean and re-oiling process unless you have a high level of competence in working on wood flooring. We clean and oil wood floors in Norfolk, restoring them to their former condition and often eliminating the need for sanding.
Our cleaning and oiling technique will provide a warm, natural, low-sheen look for your floor, keeping it looking good for years to come.